Snowboard binding coupling

ABSTRACT

A rotable snowboard binding coupling includes a circular base plate, a binding plate and a locking assembly. The base plate includes at least two slots in a circular arc having countersinks at their openings on the lower surface of the base plate and a plurality of indexing bores in a circular arc. The binding plate is connected to the base plate in rotation about an axis coincident with the circular arc of the slots with connectors countersunk in the slots. The locking assembly includes a locking pin selectively moveable from a raised position, clear of the lower surface of the binding plate, and not restricting rotation of the binding plate relative to the base plate, to a lowered position extending below the lower surface of the binding plate for engagement into the indexing bores such that the binding plate may not rotate relative to the base plate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to snowboard bindings. Inparticular, it relates to couplings for snowboard bindings which rotatein relation to the snowboard.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] It is well known that when snowboarding along a flattened surfaceit is desirable to rotate the forward foot in relation to the snowboardwithout having to remove the boot and rebinding while the rear foot isused to peddle the snowboard in a similar fashion as skate boarding. Asolution is to provide a rotatable binding that can be easily rotated inrelation to the snowboard without rebinding.

[0006] Up to now a few examples of such bindings exist. One example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,088, to Vetter et al., discloses a coupling forreleasable mounting of a boot with a boot binding to a turntable whichis adjustably secured to a snowboard. The boot binding includes aplurality of extending lock pins each with a shoe releasably lockinginto arcuate slots in the turntable. The boot binding is directed to thecoupling with a set of guide pins protruding from the boot binding. Alsoextending from the boot binding plate is a latch pin held under springbias which when aligned in a hole position, fits into one of severallatch pin holes in the turntable.

[0007] Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,584, to Sabol, discloses arotatable plate fitting over a protruding circular guide post on a baseplate secured to a snowboard. A cap plate extends through the bindingand rotatable plate openings to contact to guide post with screws orbolts passing through mating holes to the snowboard. An elevated rimaround the cap plate fits within a circular groove of the boot bindingto allow the binding and rotatable plate to rotate relative to the capplate.

[0008] Other such examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,749, to Eglitiset al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,578, to Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,983,346, to Keller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,755, to Metzger et al., U.S.Pat. No. 5,897,128, to McKenzie et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,799 to Daweset al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,729, to Bayer et al.

[0009] While the foregoing examples offer some utility, a majordisadvantage in the design of rotatable snowboard bindings lies in thefact that snow, ice and debris tend to accumulate in a variety ofcomponent parts such as cap plates, holes, indexing platforms, and slotswhich are used to accomplish the rotable connection between base plates,attached to the snowboard, and binding plates attached to the bindings.Thus, it is desirable to provide a rotable coupling for a snowboardbinding which is simple in manufacture and which is designed to resistthe accumulation of snow, ice and debris. The present inventionsatisfies these needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acoupling for a snowboard binding which is simple in manufacture andcomprised of a minimum of components parts.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling for asnowboard binding which is resistant to the accumulation of snow and icewhile in use.

[0012] To overcome the problems of the prior art methods and inaccordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadlydescribed herein, briefly, a snowboard binding coupling is provided fora snowboard having a top side, including a circular base plate having acentral rotational axis, an upper surface and a lower surface includinga plurality snowboard mating holes having a countersink at the uppersurface and at least two slots positioned in a circular arc about therotational axis, the slots having a countersink at the lower surfaces ofthe base plate, and a plurality of indexing bores positioned in acircular arc about the rotational axis, a binding plate, connected tothe base plate in rotation about an axis of rotation coincident with thecircular arc of the slots, having an upper and a lower surface, thelower surface of the binding plate in frictional contact to the uppersurface of the base plate with a connector means countersunk in theslots, the binding plate further comprising a plurality of access boresfor tool access to the mating holes, and a plurality of mounting holesfor mounting a snowboard binding to the coupling, and a locking assemblymeans including locking pin for travel within a central bore in alocking housing mounted to the binding plate, the locking pinselectively moveable from a raised position, clear of the lower surfaceof the binding plate, and not restricting rotation of the binding platerelative to the base plate, to a lowered position extending below thelower surface of the binding plate for engagement into the indexingbores of the base plate such that the binding plate may not rotaterelative to the base plate.

[0013] Additional advantages of the present invention will be set forthin part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious fromthat description or can be learned from practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by theapparatus particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and whichconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate at least oneembodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explainthe principles of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present inventionmounted to the top surface of a snowboard.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a prospective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention for use with a snowboard binding having four mounting holes.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a prospective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention for use with a snowboard binding having three mounting holes.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the present inventionshowing the preferred countersink in the slots.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention mounted to the uppersurface of a snowboard showing it locked at a maximum degree of angularrotation.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention mounted to the uppersurface of a snowboard showing it locked at an intermediate degree ofangular rotation.

[0021]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the present inventionshowing detail of assembly.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention along section8 of FIG. 6 with the lock pin head engaged in an indexing hole.

[0023]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the latch pin assembly with the lockpin head disengaged from an indexing hole which allows for rotation ofthe coupling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical orscientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventionbelongs. As defined herein the term countersink means a funnel or boredenlargement at the outer end of a drilled hole or slot for the receptionof a screw, bolt or rivet head so that the faces will be level with thesurface. The term countersunk when referring to a hole or slot meanshaving a counter sink, and when referring to a screw, bolt or rivetmeans having a head set in a countersink.

[0025] Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.Reference now will be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein like numerals represent like features.

[0026] The invention is a rotatable coupling 10 for a snowboard bootbinding 8 having a pair of rigid plates 20, 30 which may be fit to astandard snowboard 5 and a standard snowboard boot binding 8. A baseplate 30 is adapted to be secured to the snowboard 5 through countersinkmating holes 35 drilled through the base plate 30 to match the standardholes in the snowboard 5. The base plate 30 and snowboard 5 are securedtogether by mounting screws 37 or bolts countersunk into the matingholes 35. In this manner, the face of the mounting screws 37 and theupper surface of the base plate 30 are flush. Tool access holes 22 aredrilled through the binding plate 20 in alignment with the mountingscrews 37 for threading the screws 37 into the snowboard.

[0027] The rotatable binding plate 20 is adapted for receiving astandard snowboard binding 8. The binding plate 20 is secured to thebase plate 30 with either bolts, rivets, or screws 34 countersunkthrough at least two slots 32 bored in a circular arc about a commoncentral axis in the base 30 and binding 20 plates. The slots 32 have acountersink at their openings on the lower surface of the base plate 30so that the screw heads 34 remain flush with the lower surface of thebase plate 34 where it fastens to the snowboard 5. In the preferredembodiment, the countersunk slots are funnel shaped to resist theaccumulation of snow and ice. The binding plate 20 may, but need not,have a central hole having a countersink at its opening on the lowersurface of the base plate 30 to further secure the base plate 30 to thebinding plate 20 with a screw 36. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slots32 allow a measure of angular adjustment 9 of the binding plate 20 inrelation to the snowboard 5 when operated under different levels ofterrain.

[0028] A locking pin assembly 40 includes a housing 41 with a upperconcentric hole in one end and an open opposite end defining acylindrical cavity therein. The housing 41 is preferably fastened to thebinding plate with two screws 42, but may be fastened by means of aweld, bolt, or rivet. The assembly further includes a locking pin with arod 46 extending out of the housing 41 upper concentric hole and anenlarged head 48 on the rod 46 inside, but extending out of, the housing41 and slidably fit in the housing 40 in a manner of a piston in acylinder. Around the locking pin rod 46 is a spring 50 extending withinthe cylinder cavity maintaining the locking pin head 48 under a bias. Inthe rod end 46 extending out of the cylinder is a keeper ring 44 largerthan the cylinder upper hole to keep the rod 46 from falling out of thecylinder under the spring bias within, and for the user to easily reachwith his hand. The locking pin head 48 extends through a hole 52 in thebinding plate 20 for engagement in the indexing holes 38. As shown inFIG. 9, in operation, the keeper ring 44, when pulled upwardlydisengages the locking pin head 48 from the indexing holes 38 to allowfor rotation of the binding plate. As shown in FIG. 8, upon releasingthe keeper ring 44 the spring bias causes the locking pin head 48 toengage within any of the indexing holes 38 in alignment with the lockingpin head 48 which locks the snowboard binding at the desired angle tothe snowboard.

[0029] The base 30 and binding plates 20 and the locking assembly 40 ofthe present invention are preferably fabricated of a durable waterresistant material, such as a composite, non-rusting metal plate, ormolded or injectable plastic. The locking pin rod 46 and head 48 arepreferably constructed of a single strong metal such as stainless steel.

[0030] While the present invention has been described in connection withthe illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and understood thatmodifications may be made without departing, from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A snowboard binding coupling for a snowboard, comprising:(a) a circular base plate having a central rotational axis, an uppersurface and a lower surface including a plurality snowboard mating holeshaving a countersink at the upper surface and at least two slotspositioned in a circular arc about the rotational axis, the slots havinga countersink at the lower surfaces of the base plate, and a pluralityof indexing bores positioned in a circular arc about the rotationalaxis; (b) a binding plate, connected to the base plate in rotation aboutan axis of rotation coincident with the circular arc of the slots,having an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface of the bindingplate in frictional contact to the upper surface of the base plate witha connector means countersunk in the slots, the binding plate furthercomprising a plurality of access bores for tool access to the matingholes, and a plurality of mounting holes for mounting a snowboardbinding to the coupling; and (c) a locking assembly means includinglocking pin for travel within a central bore in a locking housingmounted to the binding plate, the locking pin selectively moveable froma raised position, clear of the lower surface of the binding plate, andnot restricting rotation of the binding plate relative to the baseplate, to a lowered position extending below the lower surface of thebinding plate for engagement into the indexing bores of the base platesuch that the binding plate may not rotate relative to the base plate.2. The snowboard binding coupling according to claim 1, furtherincluding a central bore at the rotational axis of the base plate havinga countersink at the lower surface of the base plate for rotatablymounting the base plate to the binding plate.
 3. The snowboard bindingcoupling according to claim 1 wherein the countersinks are funnel-shapedenlargements at an outer end of holes and slots for the reception of ascrew, bolt, or rivet head.